New Group One sprint for Royal Ascot

A new Group One sprint for three-year-olds at Royal Ascot has been unveiled by the European Pattern Committee.

The six-furlong heat, which will be introduced from next season, is one of a number of changes to the European sprint programme which attempts to address the current lack of opportunities for high-class three-year-old sprinters.

Several races in Europe have also been upgraded, including Ascot's British Champions Sprint, which will be a Group One from next season.

Brian Kavanagh, chairman of the EPC, said: " The strategic objective in reviewing the sprint programme was to implement measures that will have a long-term, positive impact, delivering meaningful benefits both for European racing and for the European horse population.

"For horses performing at every distance other than sprinting, the European Pattern provides a three-year-old-only programme until mid summer, when the Classic generation is considered ready to take on the older horses.

"We acknowledge the steps we have taken are bold, some may consider them radical.

"However, the committee believes they are warranted and that they will be of considerable benefit to European horseracing and breeding.

"As is the case for any race granted Group status or an upgrade in exceptional circumstances, the performance of the races in question will be reviewed by the EPC after three years."

Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett said: "We are very pleased to be able to stage what we hope will now become a significant new option for three-year-old sprinters at Royal Ascot before they go on to compete against their elders in the Darley July Cup and beyond.

"It is remarkable to think that in 2001, there were just four Group One races at Royal Ascot, none of which were sprint races and we now have eight Group Ones at the meeting. Three of them are for sprinters and the two established races are now major targets for international horses.

"I would like to thank Brian Kavanagh, chairman of the EPC, for leading on these exciting developments and all the racing authorities around Europe for demonstrating such confidence in British racing and Ascot to deliver on the focal points of the new sprinting Pattern which has been announced today."